State Water Board Science Panel Believes Numeric Limits are Feasible for Some Industrial Categories

07/10/06 - (Updated 07/19/06) - Attention: CICC Members - Read the Following Article - You May Be Impacted!

Sacramento, CA - The long anticipated State Water Board science panel report on the feasibility of "numeric effluent limits" for storm water discharges has finally been issued.The report evaluates the feasibility of numeric limits for municipal, construction and finally for industrial discharges.The report also contains recommendations for each of the discharger groups.Overall the report is short on detail and vague on how the state should implement the report's conclusions and recommendations.

· For industrial dischargers, the report concludes: "The Panel believes that Numeric Limits are feasible for some industrial categories.Industries have control over their facilities." This statement alone gives us concern about the report's implications for the next industrial permit.

· The report recommends that where there is a TMDL, "the Numeric Limits should be set to meet the TMDL," and "there maybe sufficient data to establish Action Levels."

· The report concludes the existing database of emissions and best management practices (BMP) is not adequate "to establish practical and achievable numeric limits."

The State Water Board has scheduled two workshops "to receive comment on how the State Board should proceed with the findings of the Storm Water Panel of Experts." The workshops are scheduled for July 21 in Sacramento and July 28 in Los Angeles.